THREE out of five reported cases of child sex abuse are perpetrated by a male relative, while a further quarter are carried out by a person known to the victim, apart from a direct family member, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) said yesterday.

Neans McSweeney reports on the successful approach taken by a new centre for sexual assault victims.

An unpublished report finds low staffing levels and a lack of funding mean that three of the country’s four sexual assault treatment units are under serious threat, writes Catherine Shanahan.

THE Manchester project, whereby nurses receive training to forensically examine rape victims, would prove to be a major stride forward if proven to be practical and adaptable to this country.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell is to introduce a series of tough laws later this year as crime rates soar out of control.

FEWER women may report rape because there is no nationwide network of sexual assault treatment centres in hospitals, experts have warned.

THE newly appointed chief executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has undertaken a daunting task.

RAPE ranks among the most heinous of crimes, and it is therefore extremely worrying that sexual attacks

THE support group One in Four has vowed to continue assisting victims of sexual abuse despite a 24% cut in funding.

ONE-IN-FIVE women is abused by her partner, yet the Government has done little to tackle domestic violence, Amnesty International has claimed.

ALMOST 300 serious crimes were committed every day last year — 55 more daily than in 2001.

I HAVE written to the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to express the serious concern of the Irish Refugee Council about the appalling insensitivity shown recently to a number of immigrants and their children by certain officials of the state.

WOMEN joined together yesterday to observe a minute’s silence for the 107 women murdered in Ireland since 1996. Against the backdrop of a giant in memoriam card each woman was represented by a white lily.

INCREASING numbers of refugees and migrants who have suffered sexual violence in their home countries are providing fresh challenges for rape crisis services.

THE growing level of violence accompanying the heinous crime of rape is extremely disturbing.

ONLY 1% to 2% of reported rape cases in Ireland result in a conviction, figures show. Ireland has the lowest conviction rate of 21 European countries surveyed.

THE DPP should be made accountable and give reasons for decisions not to pursue rape cases, leading academics and rape help groups have urged.

RAPISTS in Galway have a greater chance of getting away with the crime because victims have to travel 300 miles to be forensically examined, it was claimed yesterday.

PROPOSALS that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell will bring to the Cabinet tomorrow on how best to formally inquire into allegations of clerical child sex abuse would appear to be going generally in the right direction.

A REPORT from Britain will influence if nurses here are trained to carry out forensic examinations on sexual assault victims.